Police in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, have dispersed dozens of youth activists who protested in downtown Bishkek on June 9.

Ten organizers of the rally were detained.

The activists had gathered in front of the cabinet building in Bishkek to protest the purchase earlier this year of Kyrgyzstan's KyrgyzGaz energy company by Russian energy giant Gazprom.

The activists were also demanding an immediate resolution of a natural-gas shortage in Kyrgyzstan's southern Osh region, which has been suffering for about two months after neighboring Uzbekistan stopped natural-gas deliveries to the region with no explanation.

The activists burned a traditional Central Asia fuel called "tezek" -- dried livestock dung -- at their protest site but were prevented from giving gift-wrapped dung to the Kyrgyz president, prime minister, lawmakers, and KyrgyzGaz chief Turgunbek Kulmurzaev.